TIER 5: Aerospace and Defense Technical Competencies
1. Aerospace and Defense Fundamentals
Competency Element
Demonstrating familiarity with
aerospace and defense
terminology
Identifying key differences and
similarities among aerospace
and defense industry sectors
Assessing the application of
materials frequently used in the
industry on the basis of their
properties.
Complying with relevant local,
state, federal, and international
laws, regulations, and
certification requirements that
impact the industry
Utilizing the security clearance
and International Traffic in
Arms Regulations (ITAR)
processes as required for
aerospace and defense
applications
2. Design and Development
Competency Element
Formulating conceptual design
of aerospace and defense
products or systems
Developing design criteria for
aerospace and defense
products or systems, including
testing methods, production
costs, quality standards,
completion dates, and design
for X (e.g. assembly,
manufacturing, maintenance,
reliability).
Evaluating product data and
design from inspections and
reports for conformance to
design criteria, engineering
principles, customer
requirements, safety, and
quality standards
Developing prototypes of
aerospace components
Developing new technologies
for use in aviation, defense
systems, and space
exploration, often specializing
in areas such as structural
design, guidance, navigation
and control, instrumentation
and communication, or
production methods
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Planning and conducting
experimental, environmental,
operational, and stress tests on
models and prototypes of
aerospace and defense
systems and equipment
Conducting tests to determine
whether equipment, software,
or procedures are operating as
expected
Applying computer-aided
design/computer-aided
manufacturing/computer-aided
engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE)
principles to product design
Ensuring intellectual property
rights are protected and
avoiding infringement of the
intellectual property rights of
others
Setting realistic geometric
dimensioning and tolerancing
(GD&T) requirements taking
temperature, climate, and
environmental factors into
account
3. Product Maintenance
Competency Element
Planning and conducting
routine maintenance checks
and incorporate unscheduled,
non-routine tasks.
Describing possible
discrepancies and defects that
could affect the safety or
mission effectiveness of
aerospace and defense
products.
Applying inspection
procedures involved in testing
aircraft, missile, and other
defense systems under
simulated operational
conditions.
Performing systems readiness
tests and pre- and postoperational checkouts.
Utilizing Automated and Built In
Test equipment/features.
4. Inventory Control & Distribution Support
Competency Element
Facilitating delivery of priority
spares and repair parts to
minimize degrading operational
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availability of systems and
equipment.
Responding to need for
additional sources of supply
and/or increases in required
production capacity to satisfy
spare and repair parts
requirements.
Validating tech data used by
procurement is complete,
accurate, and reflects current
requirements when
determining best course of
action to maintain equipment
and/or acquire spare/repair
parts.
Minimizing diminishing
manufacturing sources and
material shortages (DMSMS)
impact; validate obsolescence
management program to
identify components or
technologies likely to become
obsolete, unavailable, or
expensive during the life of a
program and identify
alternatives to satisfy program
requirements to prevent an
impact on production.
Developing effective measures
to avoid the use of counterfeit
parts and to exclude lead-free
electronics from critical, high
reliability applications.
Overseeing inventory control
and distribution support
5. Technical Cost Estimating, Analysis, and Control
Competency Element
Anticipating possible
production program cost
drivers under various
circumstances; identifying
significant production cost
risks for contractor proposals,
manufacturing plans,
production schedules, etc.;
ensuring mitigation strategies
are developed; and managing
affordability programs.
Utilizing learning and cost
improvement curves in cost
estimation. Assessing cost
benefit analysis. Assessing the
cost effectiveness of
manufacturing the product
design.
Evaluating target and “should”
costs for feasibility. Modeling
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current cost estimates and
metrics.
Analyzing work measurement
data and comparing planned
work and costs against actual
work completed to provide
program managers, contracting
officers, and others with an
objective estimate of program
progress and cost to complete.
Validating the value
engineering program to ensure
effectiveness, reduce costs and
to ensure the utilization of new
and appropriate technologies.
6. Validation and Verification Techniques
Competency Element
Conducting predictive analysis
of results from equipment
tests, inspections, and
operational usage to
statistically forecast the
likelihood and criticality of
failures, maintenance
requirements, and if the need
exists for manufacturing or
design changes.
Conducting modeling and
simulation (M&S) in the place
of actual performance data
when time and expense of
buying and testing the item
itself is not possible.
7. Supplier Management
Competency Element
Determining whether it is more
appropriate to make a product
in-house or purchase from a
supplier.
Tracking vendor delivery times
to ensure supply availability.
Demonstrating familiarity with
and providing inputs to DoD
contractor performance
appraisal systems and
databases, including contractor
performance assessment
reporting system (CPARS),
past performance information
retrieval system (PPIRS),
product data reporting and
evaluation program (PDREP),
and continuous process
improvement management
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system (CPIMS) available to
program for use in reporting
and evaluating supplier on-time
delivery and quality.
Assessing supplier
performance and determining
supplier capability to ensure
prime control of
subcontractors and vendors.
Ensuring contractor has
adequate supplier base to
support the life cycle of
programs and contracts and to
scale up to program
requirements.
Assessing integration of
contractor and supplier
resources.
Determining whether the
suppliers have the capacities to
meet delivery and production
schedules; assessing facility
efficiency
Assessing whether the supplier
base is complete, dependable,
and integrated.
8. Promoting Producibility, Reliability, Safety, and Maintainability
Competency Element
Developing a producibility,
reliability, safety and/or
maintainability improvement
plan to mitigate risks, including
incentives to improve
contractor performance in the
plan.
Assuring producibility,
reliability, safety and/or
maintainability principles
applied early in the life cycle.
Assessing producibility,
reliability, safety and/or
maintainability of emerging
concepts.
Managing and evaluating
manufacturing process
capability assessments.
Evaluating design trades on the
basis of life-cycle cost impacts.
Reading and interpreting
implications of technical data
to assess potential
implementation of new
technologies in design
platforms.
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TIER 6: Facility and Equipment Development
1. Equipment/Tools Development
Competency Element
Designing cutting tools, work
holding tools, die/molds, and
gages to meet functional
requirements, determining
operating guidelines, and
testing whether requirements
are met.
Designing machines to meet
functional requirements,
determining operating
guidelines, and testing whether
requirements are met.
Researching and applying
appropriate preservation
methods for equipment and
tools.
2. Production System Development
Competency Element
Conducting industrial base
assessments.
Determining facility
infrastructure requirements for
power, water, heating,
ventilation, and air
conditioning, etc. and
analyzing the business case
concerning options for facility
location.
Managing the process for
determining facility layout
requirements and analyzing
alternatives to meet those
requirements.
Interpreting product
specifications to determine
suitability for use of possible
production facilities.
Analyzing capacities,
comparing them to future
needs, and suggesting options
to close the gap.
Performing facility capability
and capacity assessments for
sustainment.
Creating detailed assembly
plans including sequencing
and identifying tooling, fixtures
and equipment needs.
Benchmarking manufacturing
capabilities against
competitors and suggesting
production practices,
manufacturing system designs,
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and organizational changes to
close the gap.
Establishing and documenting
work flow processes and
instructions.
Establishing and selecting
tools and equipment based on
a business case analysis of
alternatives.
Demonstrating the ability of a
production line to meet cost,
schedule, and performance
goals.
Ensuring that the facility
achieves safety requirements
by considering human factors,
ergonomics, and other criteria
contributing to hazards.
Managing waste disposal in a
way that protects the
environment.
3. Automated Systems and Control
Competency Element
Establishing requirements for
automation and determining
whether it should be hard,
flexible, or soft.
Establishing computerized
control of automation.
Determining the role and use of
computer networks in
automation.
Determining the role and use of
information technology and
databases in automation.
Managing the use of enterprisewide systems integration as it
relates to automation.
4. Production Line Restart/Shutdown
Competency Element
Reviewing shut-down plans to
ensure all key production
elements (i.e. tech data,
equipment, automated test
equipment, tooling, etc.) are
captured and retained.
Ensuring that critical
knowledge is captured and
retained to prevent "re-creating
the wheel."
Planning for production line
verification, first article test,
process proofing, data
management, and critical item
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control to ensure efficient
restart of production line.
Managing production line
restarts/shutdowns whenever
they occur.
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TIER 7: Acquisition Planning and Support Competencies
1. Acquisition Process
Competency Element
Implementing an acquisition
plan that is consistent with DoD
Acquisitions Framework
(5000.02) and key milestones
as they relate to production,
quality and manufacturing
(PQM) functions
Implementing an acquisition
plan that is consistent with how
systems evolve from mission
needs through development
and production to deployment
and disposal.
2. Manufacturing Planning
Competency Element
Assessing and validating
workforce size, workforce skill
levels, training requirements,
and maintaining timely and
efficient responses to hiring
needs to ensure successful
production and quality
management.
Assessing the skill set required
for a project and how personnel
might develop the requisite
skills.
Documenting quality strategy
in a quality plan for the
program.
Developing a manufacturing
plan for the program.
Constructing the
manufacturing and quality
elements of the test and
evaluation master plan, the
systems engineering plan, the
integrated master schedule,
and the integrated master plan
based on program
goals/objectives, identified risk,
and entrance and exit criteria.
Negotiating with labor unions.
Developing justification for
plans and actions based on a
business case analysis
determination of a return on
investment.
Complying with the ethics and
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social responsibility policies of
the organization and
profession.
Complying with all applicable
laws, standards, and
regulations.
3. Special Tooling and Test Equipment (STTE)
Competency Element
Ensuring STTE conforms to
requirements.
Monitoring STTE acquisition
process.
Reviewing STTE final
disposition.
4. Engineering and Logistics Interfaces
Competency Element
Developing inputs to the
System Engineering Plan.
Assessing actions taken to
implement configuration
management programs as a
function of program phase.
Developing inputs to the Life
Cycle Management Plan.
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TIER 8: Industry Sector Contracting Support Competencies
1. Pre-Award Support Activities
Competency Element
Determining, for both requests
for proposal (RFPs) and
contracts, contractor
requirements and deliverables
related to carrying out
production, quality and
manufacturing functions and
responsibilities that are
appropriate for the current
phase of acquisition
Preparing a proposal that
meets the established
requirements
Developing source selection
evaluation criteria related to
manufacturing/production,
quality management,
manufacturing risk reduction
and contractor past
performance
Demonstrating awareness of
the existence, purpose, and
relationship between the
acquisition strategy,
acquisition plan, and RFP to
provide input into or validate
the consistency of production
and manufacturing
requirements throughout a
system's acquisition cycle.
2. Source Selection and Contract Negotiation
Competency Element
Using source selection
evaluation criteria to evaluate
contractor proposals as to how
well they meet quality and
manufacturing requirements.
Identifying risks associated
with 1) gaps between contract
proposal and requirements and
2) meeting production cost
targets.
Evaluating the adequacy of risk
mitigation plans and processes
in the proposal
Identifying manufacturingrelated strengths of proposals.
Guiding negotiations of
contracts, contract
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modifications, and/or overhead
rates through preparation of
Technical Support to
Negotiations (TSN) and
providing contracting officers
with an assessment of the
adequacy, reasonableness, and
necessity of proposed
contractor labor and material
charges.
3. Post-Award Support Activities
Competency Element
Supporting "progress
payment" and award fee plans
and determination, through
assessment of contractor
delivery progress and
production performance.
Demonstrating awareness of
the purpose, process,
importance of, and
roles/responsibilities
associated with the post-award
conference.
Resolving improper business
practices, conflicts of interest,
and ethical problems
Analyzing and resolving issues
regarding prime/subcontractor
relationships, contract
changes, amendments,
modification, and contract
change notices in order to set
up a reasonable delivery
schedule and ensure schedules
are met.
Supporting contract
administration activities
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TIER 9: Risk Management Competencies
1. Audit/Review Planning, Execution, and Documentation
Competency Element
Developing schedule for audits
and reviews for both internal
audit team and contractor to
allow sufficient time to prepare,
gain customer buy-in and
achieve the intended purpose.
Communicating with contractor
concerning all phases and
schedules allowing sufficient
time to prepare and gain
customer buy-in and achieve
the intended purpose
Developing audit criteria,
applicable performance
standards, and associated
checklists to facilitate team's
evaluation of performance and
required supporting material
and or data for a final report.
Identifying audit team members
with appropriate expertise in
the product/process to be
audited in order to obtain
proper level of coverage.
Conducting quality
audits/reviews and support all
reviews and audits.
Documenting findings from
audits/reviews to clearly
identify audit scope, criteria,
and findings.
Drawing conclusions from
audit/review findings to
determine whether the audited
organization satisfactorily
meets defined criteria and
identify areas needing
improvement, as well as areas
of excellent performance.
2. Risk Identification
Competency Element
Preparing manufacturing
elements of in-process reviews,
non-conformance material
assessment, compliance
reviews, and design reviews
Planning and conducting
production readiness reviews
(PRRs) and manufacturing
readiness assessments
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(MRAs).
Identifying products with
single, sole, or foreign sources
or potential obsolescence
issues to highlight potential
risks to DoD supply.
Identifying and evaluating
critical suppliers and schedules
to ensure sub-contracted
requirements support
production schedules.
Identifying and evaluating
manufacturing maturity of
critical suppliers and subcontractors working with the
primary DoD contractor to
determine risks to production.
Assessing design maturity.
Assessing a model based
design for its completeness,
stability, maturity, and its
ability to meet requirements.
Assessing technology
readiness
Assessing performance against
Integrated Master Plan and
Integrated Master Schedule.
Identifying metrics and
management information
requirements
Identifying best practices and
conduct benchmarking
Assessing compliance to
certification criteria.
3. Risk Analysis
Competency Element
Performing risk assessments to
determine severity of impact
and likelihood of occurrence
Applying decision analysis in
the selection of risk mitigation
options.
Applying the mechanics of
problem solving tools and
performing required
calculations for various risk
scenarios.
Using risk management
software to predict, track, rate,
and mitigate risk events, as
well as identify critical path in
order to determine probabilities
of program completion dates
and costs.
4. Contingency Planning and Solutions Planning
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Competency Element
Identifying, analyzing and
reporting product or system
failures to address quality
deficiencies reported by users
after delivery of products by
the contractor; investigate and
determine mitigating actions
for product quality deficiency
reports (PQDRs).
Formulating appropriate risk
strategies, and provide
Program Managers with
actionable recommendations
Identifying potential risks and
determine how to mitigate,
postpone, delay, or eliminate
risks across the production life
cycle.
Obtaining funding to mitigate
risks.
Leading teams to resolve
issues.
Mitigating threats to
contractor's ability to meet
schedule and contractual
requirements through analysis
of potential issues and
recommendations to minimize
risks to program.
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